Gas lift valve



L. L. CUMMINGS June 23., 1953,

GAS LIFT VALVE 4 sheetmhw 1 Filed March 19. 1951.,

I. IIWMI Les/1e L. Cum/27019;:

INVENTOR.

BY A 50 ATTORNEY I L. L. CUMMINGS GAS LIFT June 23, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2- Filed March 19, 1951 .1 es/le L. Cum/m nJ INVENTOR. y

A TTOR/VE V June 23, 1953 L. I... CUMMINGS GAS LIFT VALVE 4 Sheath-Sheet s A eslle L Cum/17mg:

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Filed March 19, 1951 of parts, including moving parts.

Patented June 23, 1953 GAS. LIFT VALVE Leslie L. Cummings, Houston, Tex., assignor to Cummings, Inc., Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application March 19,1951, Serial No. 216,381

This invention relates to valves for use in oil wells and the like for controlling the admission of gas or air into a column of fluid in the well to lift the column and aid in flowing the fluid from the well. Such valves are commonly referred to in the art as air-or-gas-lift valves.

In conventional gas lift systems, the well equip- 7 Claims. (Cl. 137- 155) More importantly, the space limitations inherently imposed by the ordinarily relatively narrow annular space between the casing and tubing into which the valve mechanism must be inserted, since it is mounted at the side of the tubing, necessarily restrict the maximum dimensions ment includes a string of relatively small pipe,

called the tubing, which is inserted inside a larger diameter string of pipe, called the casing. Gas or air is introduced under controlled pressures and volumes into the annular space between the tubing and casing and is injected through suitable gas-lift valves, located at spaced points along the tubing, into the column of oil inside the tubing in order to lift the oil to the surface. Conventional types of injection or gaslift valves, which are commonly employed for controlling the admission of the lifting gas into the tubing from the annular space, comprise relatively complicated valve structures which are enclosed in suitable housings which, by reason of their construction, must always be mounted at the side of the tubing string and communicate with the interior of the tubing through suitable ports in the wall thereof. 7

Such conventional gas-lift valves always include a circular valve seat having a central bore or orifice through which the lifting gas passes from the annular space into the valve housing and then into the tubing. A valve disk or plug is arranged to cooperate with the seat to open and close the bore thereof for regulating and controlling the passage of gas therethrough. The movements of the disk or plug are ordinarily controlled by suitable loading mechanism, such as coil springs, or a flexible bellows, or both, which are adapted to provide the necessary loading on the valve disk to control the pressures at which opening and closing of the valve will take place.

Conventional gas-lift valves of the general type described are subject to numerous disadvantages. They are necessarily relatively complicated in construction, requiring a relatively large number The valve and seat members are subject to a high degree of erosion and cutting out due to the necessarily high velocities of the gas passing throughthe valve, particularly at the initial opening and final closing stages. As a result, conventional valves and seats are made of metal and require highly finished, specially hardened seating surfaces. The bellows and springs are subject to fatigue or other failures and, under the usual operating conditions, provide only relatively small forces for operating the valve.

' of the valve, especially of the diameter of the valve seat orifice, thereby greatlylimiting the orifice area of the valve and consequently the rate of flow o'flifting gas into the tubing.

Moreover, present valves are all subject, in greater or lesser degree, to the undesirable effect of back pressure of the column of fluid in the tubing acting on the surfaces of the valve closure necessarily exposed thereto.

Ihe primary object of the present invention is to provide a gas lift valve construction which will eliminate or greatly obviate the several disadvantages inherent in existing types of gas-lift valves. 7

A principal object of this invention is to provide a valve structure which is concentric with the tubing string to which it is connected.

An important. object is to provide a valve structure which includesa'tubular valve closure constructedof flexible resilient material which concentrically surrounds the tubing and is radially contractible and expansible for controlling gas admission ports in the tubing.

Another important objectis to provide a valve structure having agas admission port area very much larger than in any existing type of gas lift valve.

A further object is the provision of a valve structure in which the closure elements have no metal-to-metal engaging surfaces.

An additional object is the provision of a valve structure having atubular closure element for opening and closing the gas admission port to the tubing and an auxiliary checkvalve means of tubular form adapted to prevent back-flow of fluid from the tubing, both the closure element and the check valve means being constructed of resilient, flexible composition material.

, Another object is the provision of a gas-lift valve which is not subject to the back-pressure effect of the column of fluid in the tubing.

Other and more specific objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate several useful embodiments in accordance with this invention.

- In the drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, partly sectional, view of a valve structure in accordance with one embodiment of this invention wherein the valve elements are shown in their fully open position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the valve elements in their fully closed positions;

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines 33 and 4-4, respectively, of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspectiveview of oneof the valve elements;

Fig. 6 is a generally diagrammatic view of a portion of a well showing a plurality of the valves installed in a tubing string;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, partly sectional view of another embodiment of the valve. in accord.- ance with this invention, the valve elements being shown in their fully open position;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to- Fig; '7 show-ing-thevalv elements in their fully closed positions;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal, partly sectional, view of still another embodiment of the valve in accordance with this invention, the valve elements being shown in their fully open positions;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10 showing the valve element in their fully closed position and Fig. 12 is a detail showing a modified formof check valve which may beemployed in the valve structures in accordance with this invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, the valve structure therein illustrated, comprises a tubular body I5, normally having the same dimensions as the tubing string into which it is to be inserted. The upper and lower ends of the body are provided with externally threaded sections I8I6 by means of which the body may be co-axially connected into adjacent sections of a string of well tubing, as by means of conventional screw collars I! (only one shown). Adjacent one end thereof, body I5 is provided with a plurality of ports I8, extendingthrough the wall thereof and spaced about its circumference and forming the gas-admission passageways to the tubing string. A tubular housing I9 of somewhat larger diameter than body I5 is concentrically arranged about the exterior of the body to define an annular space between the body andthe housing forming a valve chamber I9a for enclosing the valve mechanism to be subsequently described. Ports I8 are termed" the outletports for valve chamber I9a. The upper end ofhousing I9 extends along body I5 to a point somewhat past ports I8 and valve chamber I9a between body I5 and housing I9 is closed at its. upper end by means of a tubular bushing which surrounds body I5 and extends into th upper end of chamber Hla. A resilient packing ring 21, preferably of the conventional O-ring type, is arrangedbetween the outer wall of bushing 20 and anannular seat 2Ia, arranged in the adjacent wall of housing I9 to form a fluid-tight seal between these surfaces. Bushing 20 is provided with an internal upwardly facing shoulder 22 forming an annular stuffing box 23 surrounding body I5. A conventional circular packing 24 is installed in stufiing box 23 and a metallic compression ring 25 is seated in the stuffing box on top of packing 24. A tubular gland nut 26, adapted to screw down over threads I6, has a portion 2.! adapted to project into the stuffing box into engagement with compression ring 25 to apply compressive force thereto to compress packing to thereby form a fluid-tight seal between body I5 and the inner surface of bushing 20. Gland nut 26 is;pro-

4 end of bushing 20 when the gland nut is screwed down into the stuffing box to thereby lock the bushing in place in the end of housing IS.

The opposite or lower end of valve chamber I9a is closed by means of a closure ring 29 which may be welded or otherwiserigidly connected to housing I 9:: The inner diametergof closure ring 29 is made somewhat larger than the external diameter of body I5 forming an annular passageway 30 therebetween communicating with the lower end of valve chamber I9a. A second tubular sleev 3I surrounds body I5 below ring 23; and preferably, although not necessarily, has the same external diameter as housing I9. Sleeve 3I defines an annular chamber 32 about the exterior of body I5.below ring 29 communicating with the lower end of passageway 30. The lower end of chamber 32 is closed by means of a metal closure ring33 which may be welded or otherwise rigidly connected to body I5 and housing sleeve 3I. A filler opening 34 extends through closure ring 33 and is fitted with a pneumatic inwardlyopening check valve 35 to permit introduction of pneumatic pressure fluid into chamber- 32* while automatically preventing escape of such fluid from the chamber. A plurality of axially spaced reinforcing rings 36 may be installedin chamber 32'between body I5 and sleeve 3|, and are provided with a plurality of passageways 31 (see Figs. 2 and-4) to permit movement of pneumatic fluid through chamber 31.

The upper end of ring- 29 is provided with an upwardly extending boss 38 of reduced external diameter forming an annularseat-39 between the exterior of boss 38 and the'adjacent portion of the inner wall of housing I9. A tubular sleeve valve 40, constructed of flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, is co-axially disposed in valve chamber Illa, surrounding a portion of body I5. Sleeve valve 40 has a wall thickness generally less than the width of chamber I9a. One end of sleeve valve 40 is disposed in seat 39 and is tightly clamped therein between the outer surface of boss 39 and housing I9, thus forming a fluid-tight seal with the inner wall of housing. A resilient packingring 4|, such as aconventional O-ring, is mounted in the outer faceof boss 39 in sealing engagement with the adjacent surface of the end of sleeve valve 40. The upper end portion of the outer surface of boss 39 is preferably provided with an upwardly and inwardly tapered portion 39a. The opposite end of sleeve valve 40 is clamped tightly to the exterior of body I5 by means of annular metal fitting 42 which is locked to body I5 by any-suitable means, such as a tangential'locking pin 43 (see Fig. 3). A packing ring M, such as a conventional O-ring, is disposed in sealing engagement between body I5 and'the adjacent end of sleeve valve 40. A metal collar 45' having a plurality of flexible spring fingers 46 surrounds th upper end of sleeve valve 40 andextendstoward the opposite end of thesleeve valve, the fingers serving as stiffening elements for the-valve and normally tending to urge the valve inwardly toward body I5. A plurality ofangularly spaced openings I'Lpreferably in the form of elongated slots, as illustrated, are cut through the wall of housing I9 opposite the portion of sleeve valve 4]] which passes over tapered portion 39a of boss 39. Openings 41 are adapted to provide communication between the exterior of the valve housing and valve chamber I9a, being the inlet ports to valve chamber I9a.

A tubular check valve, indicated at 48, is

pressure of the gas in chamber 32.

mounted ln'chamber l9a and surrounds azportion of body I5 between ports l8 and sleeve valve 4!]. Check valve '48 comprises'a tubular body portion 49 composed of flexible resilient material, such as rubber and the like, and has an upwardly and outwardly 'flaringflexible lip'portion '50, theouter end of which is normally in sealing engagement with the inner wall of housing l9. The lower end of bodyporti'on 49 is clamped tobody' i5 by means ofanannular fitting 5! similar to fitting 42 and is similarly locked to body I5, as by means of a tangential locking pin 52. A packing ring 53, such as a conventional O-ring, is disposed in sealingengagement between body l5 and body portion 49 of the check valve. A plurality of angularly spaced ports 54 areprovided circumferentially in body l5 opposite the interior of check'valve 48.

The above-described valve is operated in the followingmanner: Before being installed in'a tubing string, chamber '32 is charged with a pneumatic fluid such as air or gas through filler opening 34 to a pre-determined operating pressure. This gas under pressure will flow through passageway 30 into the space between sleeve valve 40 and body [5. Since the ends of the valve are sealed, as described above, the gas will be trapped beneath sleeve valve 40 and the pressure of the gas will tend to expand the sleeve valve radially and circumferentially toward openings M. It will be evident that so long as the pressure on the exterior of sleeve valve 40 is less than the pre-determined pressure of the pneumatic fluid in chamber 32 which is exerted on the inner surface of the valve, the sleeve valve will be maintained in expanded position and will be forced againstthe wall of housing [9 over openings 4! and form a tight closure therewith. Fingers 45 will flex with themovements of the sleeve valve and will tend to resist the outward movement of the valve. They will also act as reinforcements for the valvematerialto prevent extrusion thereof through openings 41 under the will thus normally be in 'the closed position The valve, having thus beenpre-set to the desired operating pressure by'the gas introduced into chamber 32, will then be installed .in the string of tubing 55 (Fig. 6) and'lowered into 'a well 56, having a casing 51' of larger diameter than the tubing. As indicated in Fig. 6 and; in accordance with conventional practice, a' plurality of such valves will normally be installed at longitudinally spaced points along the tubing string. The several valves will normallybeset and well casing may be sealed off above :-=the screen by means of a conventional'packer 60. It will beunderstood that. when the tubing string,

having'the lift valves installed therein,is inserted in the well, oil or other formation liquid will enter the bottom of the tubing stringand will rise in the interior thereof to whatever jheight it may be forced by the natural pressure existing in the oil producing formation; Where the natural pressure is insufficient'tdcause'the well to fiownaturally, a gas-lift system may be employed to inject lifting gasinto the liquid column inside the tubing to lift the to the surface andcause'the'well to flow. p

" In" accordance with conventional"practice, -gas -I The valve 6 or! air (hereinreferredto as gas generally), in sufficient volumeand at suitable pressures, will be introducedat the surface into annular space 59 to operate the several valves for the purpose of injecting thegas into the column of fluid inside the tubing. The manner in which such a series of .valves'operate generallyv is well understoodin' the art. For present purposes the operation' of a single valve in accordance with this invention will be described in order to illustrate its mode of operation. While the pressure in annular space 59'isstill below the opening pressure of the valves, the column of fluid inside thetubingfstring. and above a particular valve will be prevented from flowing out. or back through thegas lift valves, in accordance with the presentinvention, bymeans of check valve It 'will be seen that any fluid inside the tubing string above ports 18 will tend to flow out of the tubing into valve chamber [9a. However, this fluid will flow into the outwardly flared openupper end of the check valve 48 and the hydrostatic pressure of the fluid will expand lip 50 outwardly into sealing engagement with the wall of housing l9 (Fig. 2) thus effectively preventing the backward flow of this fluid. The

"exerted by the loading gas in chamber 32, the

sleeve valve will be forced inwardly away from openings 41 and the gas from annular space 59 .w-ill'flowthrough openings 4! into valve chamber lila. and will'flow upwardly-therein past the outside of'che'ck valve 48 and thence through ports 18 into the interior of body I5 and into the column of'fluid standing inside the tubing string. The force and volume of gas thus introduced will blast orbit the column of fluid standing "above the valve to the surface and expel it from the tubing. The fully open position of the valve is shown in Fig. 1. As soon as the pressure of thegas in the annular space falls below the pres'et closing pressure on the sleeve valve the latter will close and check valve 48 will prevent any back fiow of fluid from the tubing, the ports of the valve again assuming the positions shown in Fig. 2.

' As will be seen from the foregoing, when sleeve valve 45 opens, an annular orifice for admission ."o'f the injection gas is formed which has an area equal to the area, of the annular space between the exterior of sleeve valve 45 and the inner wall of housing l9.

In the present valve thi area .will befrom 10 to 20 times as great as the port area which it is possible to obtain with conventional valves .of the same nominal size, thereby'providing greatly improved operating efiiciency. i a a Byway of contrast, a valve in accordance wit the present invention, adapted for installation in standard tubing having a standard nominal twoinch diameter, will havea gas admission orifice area in fully open position of approximately 1.3 square inches whereas, standard conventional 'valvesfor the same installation will have orifice areas 'infullyopen positionof from approxi- -mately '0.07 square inch-to about.0.l.3 square inch.

By selection of an appropriate volume; for chamber- 32, theichange in volume resulting from the flexing of sleeve valve 4.0; is: practically: neg:-

ligible.

Accordingly, the present valveopens-andcloses substantially instantaneously asthe pressurarelspectively exceedsor falls below thepre-setzpresr sureof the valve so. that there will be; minimum wastage of lifting gas; Also, since thevalvescldsure isv constructed of resilient: composition ma:- terial, suchas rubber; itwillbe substantially-unaffected by the erosive or corrosiveaetioniofhthe stream of gas and the valvewill' besubstantially free from mechanical friction in its operation. The concentric construction of the valve inlacicordance with. the present: invention; permitsthe insertion into the annular space; of various types of fishing tools; such asfloven-shotsfl"wash-over pipes and" thealike, whenv necessary in connection with: fishing operations conducted; while the; tub.- ingis inthe well; The described concentric, con.- struction also permits the tubing string; with the valves in place, to be withdrawn through conventionalpipewipers; a-condition which, is notreadily possible with more conventional valves because of their oiT-set'. or eccentric mounting: on the tubing.

Figs. 7, 8tandl9 illustrate: another; embodiment in accordancewith thiswinventionr In this embodiment, thereis atubular, body 60; which has an extension 6| connected to its lower: end by'a threaded collar 62. The outer end of body 60 and extension 6-] are adapted, as in the, earlier embodiment, to be; connected into a string of tubing. Body. 60 is concentrically surrounded by a larger diameter tubular housing comprising an upper section 63 which is screwed into a: lower sectionv 64. The outer ends of housing sections 63 and Glare closed about the exteriors of, body Bi! and extension 6|, respectively. Surrounding an intermediate portionof body GOand co-axially disposed within theannular space between body 60'and housing section 64 i -anelongated sleeve member, 'designatedlgenerally by the numeral. Sleeve member fifi is composed, of a medial ring portion 61, the inneriwallof which. fits snugly about the adjacentqsurfaceof body 60, andapair of oppositely extending, outwardly flaring end portions 68 and 69,,respective1y. Each of the end portions 68 and 679 are provided with a plurality of angularly spaced elongatedslots 10 (see par ticularly Fig. 9) whereby the, end portionsform grids extending from opposite; endslof ring portion- 61. The latter is provided'onitsouter surface with a circular rounded boss II which, extends slightly toward housing section 64. Atubular sleevevalve l2, constructed of flexible resilient material, such as rubber or the like, and of lesser wall thickness than the width of the annular space between body 60 and housing section 64, surrounds sleeve 66-. and has its outer surface normally fitted snugly against the inner wall of housing section 64. The ends of sleeve valve 12' are molded over the ends of sleeveBB and are seated in longitudinally spaced upper and lower end rings 13 and 14, respectively; which are disposed about body 60 in the annular space between the latter and housing section 64. The outer surface of upper end ring'13' is dimensioned to form a snug fit with the inner wall of housing section 64 and a packing ring is disposed between the adjacent surfaces of housing section 64 and end ring 13 to form a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The inner diameter of endrring 13 ismadeslightly: greater thanithe externalidiameter-ofitheiadiacent portion .ofzbody to toform an. annular passageway,' 16,- providing communication: hetweem the-annular space. aboveend rin 13c andtheqinterior ofisleeve 66;, Lower end ring 14 has its. inner diameter; dimensioned to, fit snugly abouiztheadjacent portion of body 60 and packing: rings. 11, are: disposed between these surfaces to: forms a; fiuidatight seal therebetween. The lower, endaoi: end-ring; It rests, on the upper end. of; collan: 62; which serves to hold this ring and: the elements: connected thereto in place. A plurality: of; aneuiarly spaced half-round tubes 18; are arranged; between; the, outer surface of and ring" and;sleeve;valve;12 and the adjacent wall rof; housing section 64', and extend upwardly f mm; the lower: end; ring; to points approximately oppositee boss: Iii; These; tubes 181 formpassageways: providing means: for admi in pr ss r fluid.- fromz the) annular chamber 19; belowend ring it betweerrthe; outerg facegor, sleeve valve: 12 and; the, adjacent: surfaceof; housing, ection- 64. Packing. rings; are; provided between they inner surface or; ring; portion 6.1: and; they adjacent surface: of? body an; to form: a; fluid-tightv seal therebetweenz. A filler opening .8 l, fitted'with an inwardly; opening; check valve 82; is provided in the lowen end: on chamber, 19, for; introduction 01' gasztheretoz Arpluralityof-portsgiifl areprovided in; the portion Off the wall; oijbodyp 60, below ring portion andopnosite end, portion 69; of sleeve member: 661. and: form; the outlet, ports from the valve: chambenfor introducing-lifting gasginto the interior of the tubing string in which the valve structure isiinstalledzl A series of; angularl'y spaced inlet ports 84 are provided: inzthewalloi uppenhousing section '63 near its; upper end; to provide passages for admitting liftinggas, from, the exterior of the valve=housing the. annular space, between the housing and boiiytlh Asleevec-type, sliding check valve, designated; generally. by the numeral 85, is mounted: in; the; annular space; between housing section 63" and body "60' and intermediate the upper'end of end ring;13;and-ports 84;. Check valve 8'51'comprises1a tubular body 86; constructed of metal, having its external diameter dimensioned to: provide; a. snug; sliding fit with 1 the innerwall of: housing section 631, Its inner diameter is made somewhat: greater, than the outer diameter of the. adjacent. portion; of body '60 to provide an annular passageway 81: through which fluid may flow between passageway Hi and ports 84 when checkvalve. is inthe open position, as illustratedin-Fig1 7., At its; lower end check valve body: 85-; has an outwardly extending flange 88 which has: a, snugly; sliding fit in an enlarged portion. 89: of the: bore; of housing section 63. 'Ilhegupper end of enlarged bore 89 forms a downwardly facing shoulder 90 adapted to engage flange 88- to, limit the extent of its movement in the-upward; direction. The lengthof check valve bodytzfixis dimensioned so that when the check valve is in; its extreme upper position (Fig; .8) the upper end:0f body, will extend into the portion of: the annular space-between, housing section fifi'randgthe upperyportion of 'b0dy ;60 just below the level-oiportsflt. This portion of body SO-is outwardly-thickened at 9| so that the adjacent annular space; will be'reducedto-a width-such that the upper endof: check valve body 86 will fit snugly therein. Asealingring 92 isv disposed in the exterior; ofthe thickened portion v8 I to form a fluid-tightseal with the inner surface ofv check valve body 86 whenithe-latter' slides over this sur- 15; face; Another sealing; ring; 93 is interposed between flange 88 and the "adjacent wall ofenlar'ged bore 89 to provide a fluid-tight seal about the exterior of check valve 85.

The last described embodiment operates in the following manner: Chamber I9 will be charged with gas to the desired operating pressure. This gas will flow through tubes I8 and apply its pressure to the exterior of sleeve valve I2. Since this gas is trapped against escape by reason of sealing ring 75 at the opposite end of the sleeve valve the pressure of the gas will expand sleeve valve I2 inwardly into sealing engagement with boss II closing the valve against passage of fluid therethrough. The closed position of the valve is illustrated in Fig. 8. When the pressure of the lifting gas outside the valve housing exceed the pre-set pressure on sleeve valve I2 by the gas in chamber I9, the lifting gas will iiow through ports 84 into the valve housing. The movement of the gas will force check valve 85 downwardly, allowing the entering gas to flow. through passageways Bland I6 into the interior of upper end portion 68 of sleeve member 65, whence the gas will flow outwardly through slots I andapply its pressure against the inner surface of sleeve valve I2; The pressure of the entering gas being greaterthan that from chamber I9, sleeve valve I2 will be forced outwardly and away from boss TI, opening the valve and permitting the lifting gas tojflow inwardly through slots I0 into the lower end portion 6! of sleeve member 56 and thence through ports 83 into the interior of body '60 and into the column of well fluid-standing in the tubing string. As the incoming gas is exhausted in raising the fluid inthe tubing, its pressurewill drop below the closing pressure of the valve which will then close aganist boss II cutting on" further flow of gas into the tubing. Any fluid tending to flow back from the tubing through ports 84 to the exterior of the valve housing will cause check valve 85 to move upwardly to the closed position shown in Fig. 8.

In this embodiment, as in that previously described, it will be noted that, in the open position, the orifice area of the valve is the area of the annular space between boss II and the inner face of sleeve valve I2, a relatively large area as compared with conventional valves.

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate still another embodiment of the valve structure in accordance with this invention. In this embodiment there is a tubular body 95 having an extension 95 connected thereto by means of a threaded collar 91. 95 and extension 95 are concentrically surrounded by a tubular housing composed of. an upper housing section 98 and a lower housing sectionv 09, the adjacent ends of which extend about collar 97 and are fixed thereto. The outer ends of the housing section are closed about the respective body portions. The portion of the annular space above collar 91 is the valve'chamber I00. The annularspace below collar 91 between extension 96 and lower housing section 99 defines a pressure chamber I 0| and an opening I02, fitted with an inwardly opening check valve I03, is provided in the wall thereof for introduction of pressurizing gas into chamber I9 I. A tubular sleeve valve I04, constructedof resilient material, such as rubber .and the like, is mounted on the exterior of body 95 and is normally radially spaced from the inner wall ofhousing section 98. The lower end of sleeve valve I04 is clamped to body 95 by the upper end of collar 9! and the upper end of sleeve valve I03 is clamped to body 95 by means of a clamping ring I05. The ends of sleeve valve I04 are thus held against longitudinal movement along body 95 and form longitudinally spaced fluid-tight seals about the outer surface of the body and the inner wall of the housing. The medial portion of sleeve valve I04 is hollowed out on its inner side to form an expansion chamber I06. A longitudinal passageway I01 is provided in the wall of body 95 which communicates at one end with expansion chamber I06 and at the other end with a passageway I08 which is bored longitudinally through collar 91 and communicates with chamber IGI. A plurality of angularly spaced outlet ports 09 are provided in the wall of body 95 communicating with the upper end portion of valve chamber I 09. A plurality of angularly spaced inlet ports I I9 are provided in the wall of housing section 98 at a level generally opposite the lower end of sleeve valve I04 andbelow expansion chamber I96. A check valve III, substantially identical in form and function with check valve l8 of the embodiment first described above, is mounted on body 95 above clamping ring I05 and below ports I99. A series of drain ports I I2 are provided in the wall of body 95 providing communication between the bore of body'95 and the inside of check valve II I, as shown.

This embodiment operates in substantially the same manner as the first described embodiment. Chamber IOI will be charged with gas to the desired operating pressure and flows through passageways I08 and I0! into expansion chamber I06 where the pressure will be exerted against the inside of sleeve valve I04 to normally expand the latter radially into sealing contact with the opposite portion of the inner wall of housing sec- Body tion- 98, to thereby close valve chamber I00 against movement of fluid between ports H0 and I09. This'is the normally closed position of the valve illustrated particularly in Fig. 11. Check valve III will be in the expanded position illustrated in Fig. 11 to prevent back flow of fluid from the interior of the body through the valve chamber. When the gas pressure outside housing 98 exceeds the pre-set pressure in chamber I08, the gas will enter ports III) and force the distended portion of sleeve valve inwardly toward body 95 thereby opening the valve and allowing the gas to flow through valve chamber "it, past check valve I I I to ports I09 and thence into the column of fluid inside the tubing string to which body 95 and extension 99 are connected. The fully open positionof the valve is illustrated in Fig. 10.

As in the previously described embodiment, an annular orifice area of relatively large diameter will be provided between sleeve valve EM and housing section 98 for admission of injection gas.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modified form of check valve which may be employed in place of those incorporated in the valve structures previously described. In this modification, the check valve, designated generally by the numeral 48a, is mounted in a recessed portion II5 in the inner wall of body I5a opposite outlet ports I00, leading from valve chamber I 9b into the bore of body whereby to clamp the lower portion of the check valve tightly against body [a leaving the upper end of the check valve free to flex. Sleeve H6 has an inner diameter substantially flush with the bore of body l5a, and its upper portion is provided with a plurality of perforations Il'l.

With this arrangement it will be seen that gas flowing through ports [80: from valve chamber I91) into the bore of body [5a will be directed by check valve 48a upwardly about the inner wall of body I511 producing an annular jetting action which will be helpful in lifting the column of fluid in the bore of body I5a. When the pressure of the entering gas is reduced below the hydrostatic head of the fluid column in the bore of body Hill, the pressure of the fluid column will compress check valve 48a against the inner ends of ports I811 and thereby prevent return flow of this fluid through ports [8a. The closed position of the check valve is illustrated in Fig. 12. Perforations I I! serve to drain the space between sleeve I I6 and check valve 48a. It will be understood that in all other respects the operation of the lift valve structures previously described will be unchanged.

As Will be seen from the foregoing, all 0f the embodiments possess the same primary structural and operative features, that is, the concentric construction relative to the tubing string; annular gas passage of relatively large area; nonmetallic valve closure, etc.

It will be understood that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the details of the illustrative embodiments within the spirit of this invention without departing from the scope of i the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A gas lift valve, comprising, .a tubular body adapted for co-axial insertion in a pipe string, an annular valve chamber concentrically surrounding said body and having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports communicating respectively with the exterior of said chamber and the interior of said body, a tubular valve member constructed of flexible resilient material co-axially mounted in said valve chamber, said valve member being annularly expansible and contractible to control the passage of fluid through said chamber between said ports, and means for maintaining a pre-determined pneumatic pressure on the side of said valve member adapted to normally urge same to an expanded valve-closing position.

2. A gas lift valve, comprising, a tubular body adapted for co-axial insertion in a pipe string, an annular valve chamber concentrically surrounding said body and having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports communicating respec-- tively with the exterior of said chamber and the interior of said body, a tubular valve member constructed of flexible resilient material coaxially mounted in said valve chamber, said valve member being annularly expansible and contractible to control the passage of fluid through said chamber between said ports, a second annular chamber concentrically mounted about said body and having pneumatic pressure fluid confined therein at a pre-determined pressure, and a passageway communicating with said second chamber and adapted to direct said pressure fluid against one side of said valve member, whereby to normally urge said valve member to an expanded valve-closing position.

3. A gas lift valve, comprising; a tubular body adapted for co-axial insertion in a pipe string, an annular valve chamber concentrically surrounding said body and having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet ports communicating respectively with the exterior of said chamber and the interior of said body, a tubular valve member constructed of flexible resilient material coaxially mounted in said valve chamber, said valve member being annularly expansible and contractible to control the passage of fluid through said chamber between said ports, means for maintaining a pre-determined pneumatic pressure on the side of said valve member adapted to normally urge same to an expanded valve-closing position, and tubular check valve means annularly disposed in said valve chamber intermediate said ports adapted to prevent return flow of said fluid from said outlet ports to said inlet ports.

4. A gas lift valve, comprising, a tubular body adapted for co-axial insertion in a pipe string, a tubular housing concentrically surrounding said body and having its opposite ends closed to define an annular space about said body, partition means arranged in said annular space intermediate the ends thereof to divide said space into first and second annular chambers, said first chamber having longitudinally spaced inlet and outlet port means communicating respectively with the exterior of said housing and the interior of said body, a tubular valve member co-axially disposed in said first chamber, said valve member being constructed of flexible resilient material and having a wall thickness less than the width of said annular space, said valve member being annularly expansible and contractible to control the passage of fluid through said first chamber between said port means, one end of said valve member being sealed about said body at a point intermediate said port means, and the other end of said valve member being sealed about the inner wall of said housing at a point axially outwardly relative to said inlet port means, and a passageway extending through said partition means connecting said second chamber to a point in said first chamber on one side of said valve member intermediate the ends thereof, said second chamber containing pneumatic pressure fluid at a pre-determined pressure.

5. A gas lift valve according to claim 4, having a tubular check valve means annularly disposed in said first chamber intermediate said valve member and said outlet port means and adapted to prevent return flow of said fluid from said outlet port means to said inlet port means.

6. A gas lift valve according to claim 4 having a tubular check valve means annularly disposed in said first chamber intermediate said valve member and said outlet port means, said check valve means comprising an upwardly opening cup-shaped member mounted on said body and having an outwardly flaring flexible, resilient lip at its upper end normally engageable with the inner wall of said housing.

7. A gas lift valve according to claim 4, having a tubular inwardly opening check valve means annularly disposed in the bore of said body controlling said outlet ports.

LESLIE L. CUMMINGS.

No references cited. 

